Wikis…You’ve probably heard the term, perhaps even used one (Wikipedia is most people’s first wiki experience, and probably the most common example), but what actually is a wiki?

A wiki is a website that anyone can edit, add text, add links, create new pages, and do and undo what others have done. A wiki is a collaborative production, and an excellent tool to use to harness the collective intelligence of many users.

If anyone can edit and delete information though, why aren’t most wikis a complete mess? Well because of social engineering, contributors are incentivized to be cooperative and helpful or face there post being removed. Wikis are monitored, so that un-suitable information can be quickly removed.

Wiki use is fast becoming a popular form of collaboration in corporations. QUT uses a wiki format for students to work in groups, and for tutors to share useful information. Other corporations such as Adobe Systems, Amazon.com, Intel, Microsoft and the FBI use wikis as well. Depending on the size of a corporation, they may add to or replace centrally-managed content management systems.

2 Responses to The world of Wikis

If you look really closely at that flow chart, you can just make out the name ‘Office of the Director of National Intelligence’ curved around the top of the USA heraldry. I absolutely love that the office that oversees America’s spy network can afford to take the time to put together a diagram with smilies on it. Makes them seem so personable 🙂